Hi my name is Shannie & I am with the Western North Carolina Chapter - Charlotte. I began with TNT training for & competing in the TRI-LATTA, Latta Plantation Triathalon (2007). This Fall season I am a proud mentor for the "Kiawah Island Marathon" on Kiawah Island, South Carolina December 2007. I am originally a L.I. N.Y native, and have been in North Carolina now for 11 years- I LOVE IT- and I LOVE TNT! GO TEAM!!!!!!!!

The course is actually awesome. I think the hills are worth it. It was actually harder to get the last 10 km or so done in the full, because we have to run a really long out and back stretch to get to the finish area. The half is much more reasonable with regards to this! I think you will enjoy it. Actually, I was just talking to my staff - who was in SF this past weekend for Nike - and she said that it was a record-breaking event... 5400 TNT participants raise over $18.5 million! It is a very inspiring event.

I live in Oakland and ride my bike with the San Francisco Chapter. Started doing the Solvang cenury back in 02/03 and have been coming back every year (OK, except for last year and I regret it). The first year was my first century ever and it was amazing! I bought the bike in July and thought I was kicking a** when I did an entire 17 miles in one day and less than 9 months later TNT had me doing a 100 and loving it!

I am back again this year, ready to ride, to cry, to raise money, make friends and CURE CANCER BABY!

I'm Mary Ellen, and I'm from the Upstate NY/VT Chapter. I've done the Lake Placid Half Marathon three times (2005, 2006, 2007) and am going back for more this coming summer (2008). I'm also a newly elected member of our chapter's Board of Trustees, and I'm so proud and so flattered to join this amazing bunch of folks. TNT is the best thing I've ever done in my life.

My creaky knees (one menisectomy already) can't quite handle the full marathon, but it's not really about that is it? My honored patients, Tanner and Aidan, did not survive their bouts with leukemia. Tanner was just shy of his second birthday, and Aidan would have been nine years old had he lived.

That's why I do this, and why I'll keep doing this, and raising funds, and serving on committees, and being absolutely RELENTLESS for a cure.

On a side note, you want hills? Run the Lake Placid Half or Full (Adirondacks in Upstate NY) .....some easy rolling hills, one big mother on the return, and a NASTY switchback at the end that will absolutely test your mettle. Our Upstate NY/VT coaches are world class--and tireless in their goal to make sure that ever single runner, walker, biker and tri competitor makes it safely and successfully.

GO TEAM!!!!